I think Romeo is very under-rated actually. I think he's a poor man's Willie Mitchell. As we have seen from the last couple nites, he can also shot the puck from the point way better than Willie as well. Willie always had trouble hitting the net and he had this weird wind up with the long stick. There's a reason why AV likes him and played him over Baltard most of the season last year. He's a strong guy, solid defensively and is a good hitter (just ask Horton). I think losing him in the backend was one the reasons we kind of fell apart vs the Bruins in the finals. Hammer got most the press, but Romer is a steady presence back there as well. Losing both was a big kick in the balls on us.

As far as coughing up the puck, Romer plays within his limitations. He won't stickhandle the puck out his own zone like Baltard thinking he's Bobby Orr. He'll just make the safe play by feeding the puck up or just getting the puck deep. If he's on the PP, I think he'll just play it safe by moving the puck to the more skilled guys (like the Sedins). If he's in trouble on the point, I think he'll just dump it deep into the corners or just back off to defend. He'll just keep it simple by trying to keep himself open for a shot if someone finds him. As we have seen the last couple games, he has a cannon. His shot is a threat from the point, whereas Ballard's is not. I guess with Hoff's departure, it's giving others guys like Salo, Edler, Hammer and Romer a chance to showcase their skillz.

Jovocop wrote:
You think so... Look at how he refuses to play his $4.2m defenseman on the powerplay... instead, Rome got to the pp icetime. So far two goals in two games and AV looks like a genius... Wait til he coughs up the puck against a better team, I can't wait to hear people complaining about that.

Todd Bersnoozi wrote:
As far as coughing up the puck, Romer plays within his limitations. He won't stickhandle the puck out his own zone like Baltard thinking he's Bobby Orr. He'll just make the safe play by feeding the puck up or just getting the puck deep. If he's on the PP, I think he'll just play it safe by moving the puck to the more skilled guys (like the Sedins). If he's in trouble on the point, I think he'll just dump it deep into the corners or just back off to defend. He'll just keep it simple by trying to keep himself open for a shot if someone finds him. As we have seen the last couple games, he has a cannon. His shot is a threat from the point, whereas Ballard's is not. I guess with Hoff's departure, it's giving others guys like Salo, Edler, Hammer and Romer a chance to showcase their skillz.

Umm didn't I see Rome doing a major dipsey doodle with the puck, bounce it off the twine a couple of times then give it up only to have to take a tripping penalty? Ya, thoughts so,

But I like Rome for what he is paid and what he brings. My new name for him is Aaron "Gunner" Rome. He should have had two tonight. What a horse shit call that was. Fortunately it didn't cost us. But again, what a difference it makes when we play with the lead.

A nice win to guarantee a .500 road trip with a chance to come home 4-2.

Hmm... I watched most of the game and don't remember that play, but I'll take your word for it. Overall, I think Rome is a conservative player, so he usually makes the safe plays. I do remember Romeo holding his ground on Penner in the slot, I think Penner got frustrated, knocked him down and took a penalty. Penner is one big boy and not easy to hold of like that.

Hockey Widow wrote:
Umm didn't I see Rome doing a major dipsey doodle with the puck, bounce it off the twine a couple of times then give it up only to have to take a tripping penalty? Ya, thoughts so,

Jannik Hansen, when on, like he was in the first last night, is one of the most tenacious forecheckers I have ever seen.

Dominant first period by Vancouver and then the Kings started to play more physical without the stupidity.

How long did Doughty think he would get away with the cross checks on Kesler? Dumb. Nice flop by Kesler when enough was enough.

Third period, Vancouver played shut down hockey, but not very well. That still needs some work.

I'm waiting for an opposing penalty killer to gamble on the drop pass entry Vancouver is using on the power play. Too many of those drop passes have been too soft. Someone will gamble and go for a break away. Last season that pass was crisp, this year it is a lame duck.

Booth-Hodgeson-Ebbett, your second unit power play because Higgins played the 5-3. Ouch, I guess that's the depth when Raymond and Burrows are hurt.

Good call on the no goal by the ref. Hansen tried to squeeze between Quick and the defender and there wasn't room. The fact he is or isn't in the crease is moot, read the rule. http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26480

Recall the worry of signing Mitchell coming back from his concussion, looks like he' doing fine.

How many of you beer league'rs are strapping on the inlines and packing wights after work tonight? 400m uphill.

Sorry Topper the waved off goal was a bad call. While a goaltender has every right to the ice even the white ice he doesn't have an absolute right to go there just because he might want to. If the opposition player beats him to that spot they can stand there all they like. Point 1. Point 2 is that Hansen was actually nudged into that position by the D-man. He had no choice as to where to go. Point 3 is that no contact occurred before the puck got to Quick. The save was already blown when contact was made. Hansen did not affect Quick's ability to make the save from thereplays I saw.

I understand why the call was made because it all happens so fast but it wasn't the correct call. Still think that is an easy situation to review.

Did the Kings miss the Blackhawks game? That was the worst possible way for them to start a game against the hottest and most dangerous PP in the league.

Teams should keep trying to physically intimidate the Canucks with dumb penalties.

I think we've found the spot-replacement on the right side with the Twins when Burrows is hurt or the line needs a shake-up. Hansen's ability on the forecheck, along the boards, his instincts and passing make him an easy fit with the Twins when he gets comfortable, as it seems he is now. His finish still isn't where it needs to be, but he can damn sure take a regular shift with the top line and help them remain a threat. So much for missing Samuelsson's ability to take some shifts on the top line.

Hamhuis is also replacing another aspect of Samuelsson's game, and that's on the top unit PP. I still think Hamhuis can improve and be more decisive on the point, but I think that'll come the more time he spends there.

I see fans with their usual knee-jerk criticism towards AV for 'trapping it up' in the 3rd period. Keep in mind, the Canucks play again tonight and the Kings were going to throw everything at the Canucks in the 3rd. Instead of running and gunning, the Canucks went into a more defensive posture with shorter shifts to not only protect the lead, but cause turnovers in the neutral zone and hit the Kings on the counter attack. I didn't particularly like the Canucks 3rd period, but I thought it had more to do with the players not being disciplined enough in their positioning and a slight dip in their battle level for stretches

AV isn't just coaching for last night, he's got the big picture in mind. The Canucks need to improve their shut-down game for later in the season, particularly in the playoffs.

Topper wrote:
Good call on the no goal by the ref. Hansen tried to squeeze between Quick and the defender and there wasn't room. The fact he is or isn't in the crease is moot, read the rule. http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26480

Have to agree, the contact with the defender was initiated by Hansen driving to the net, and the contact did prevent Quick from being fully prepared to face the shot.

It was one of those plays that could have gone the other way, but the official was well within his right to make that call.

Good game last night. Hansen is looking good with the Sedins, I wonder how Gallagher feels about Hansen now who was absolutely lambasting the whole idea of Hansen playing with the Sedins like the guy is a complete knucklehead when it comes to the skill side of the offensive game. It was a nice win for AV as well cause Gallagher has already started the Lets Fire AV campaign. Gallagher has a weird-on/hate-on for coaches.

The Sedins are amazing

Luongo was shakey/flukey but he managed to pull off the win.

Where is the Doughty we saw in his rookie year? Not seeing the same guy.

I actually think Weise is a worse fighter than Oreskovich. I don't think the guy knows how to fight. That being said, what's the point in even having him on the fourth line?

I know I am going to upset the Booth Loving Apple Cart here but it's becoming clear to me that Booth is pretty much a one dimensional winger. He doesn't have much going on in the lateral/peripheral game along with zero puck handling and play making skills, he's pretty much, bust down the wing with the puck, blinders on hoping that he can bust to the net around the D-man.

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

Yeah, great to see Willie doing well. I remember this one shift, he was just turning everyone back. I think he got like Higgy, Hank and someone else with his poke check and muscling our guys off the puck.

Topper wrote:Recall the worry of signing Mitchell coming back from his concussion, looks like he' doing fine.

RoyalDude wrote:
It was a nice win for AV as well cause Gallagher has already started the Lets Fire AV campaign. Gallagher has a weird-on/hate-on for coaches.

I don't get Gallagher's hate for AV.

Sure he makes some unorthodox decisions, but the guy has a tremendous track record as Canucks coach. They've started slow this year, but the special teams have been outstanding and it's clear this team is pretty fucking good when it gets going.

Coaching will not prevent this team from winning the cup. He consistently gets the best out of the vast majority of his players. Just look at how many great players have developed under him and risen to great things. Yes, he's been fortunate to have good talent on his teams, but not many coaches are able to create an environment that allows that to happen. It's clear he has the respect of the players even if they may not be all that close with him. It's not an easy thing to command an NHL roster.

When you have a coach that produces like AV has done you just don't let him go. There's no guarantee the next guy you bring in will be able to do the same thing, let alone produce better results.

We're not talking about a team that's severely underachieving. The toughest loss they've had in the playoffs was Boston, and that came in the Stanley Cup finals. It was the only series, that going into it, the Canucks were the clear favorites and ended up losing.

RoyalDude wrote:
He doesn't have much going on in the lateral/peripheral game along with zero puck handling and play making skills, he's pretty much, bust down the wing with the puck, blinders on hoping that he can bust to the net around the D-man.

That's a fair assessment of what he's shown so far.

But I still think we need to be patient with Jude. He has more than he's shown so far, and I think it's a matter of confidence since he's only scored 1 goal so far. Like every goal scorer he's streaky, and when he gets going he shows better puck handling skills and moves.

He has a lot more to give, and until we see how much that is, it's too early to write him off.